Alice-Azania Jarvis: 'I'm getting ready to jumble again – and this time I mean business'

In the Red
Saturday 06 March 2010 01:00 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Istill haven't decided what to do for my birthday. But, not to worry. For now, at least, I have a temporary distraction: tomorrow I'm taking part in another jumble sale to raise money for my Save The Rhino marathon fund. Actually, I can't quite believe that this one – my second – has come round so quickly. I'm sticking with the same hosts – Let's Get Ready To Jumble, at Bar Music Hall in Shoreditch – since last time it was perfect: the exact right combination of not-too-much-pressure and plenty of foot traffic. I raised just over £140, which I was thrilled with, since very little that I sold broke the £2 threshold.

Indeed, it's a rule I plan to keep on Sunday: the number of people who commented last time on how refreshing it was to see "a jumble sale with jumble sale prices" confirmed that a high turnover of low-priced goods is infinitely superior to a low turnover of high-priced ones. I'll also be sticking with roughly the same wares: a pretty mix of jewellery, clothes, CDs and cakes.

There are, however, many things that I plan on doing differently. For one, I'll be dedicating considerably more of my stall to cakes. For all my predictions that people wouldn't buy baked goods from the same place they would buy bric-a-brac, my chocolate brownies and smartie cookies proved a hit (the former more than the latter). Tomorrow, I'll be supplementing them with a few loaf cakes, some flapjacks and, hopefully, some rocky road. One of these is bound to be heart shaped: after complaining that nowhere in east London sold decent cookie cutters, one very kind reader has sent some in (Sue Jarvis, no relation, thank you!). I'll also be making sure that my CDs are front and centre – and supplemented by unwanted books. Last time the CDs proved the biggest seller (one man very nearly cried after I told him the Miles Davis album he had been looking for his entire life was only £1) and I imagine books will have a similar effect.

And, of course, I'll be leaving some stock at home. Despite predicting that my big sales would be vintage shoes and bags, not one of them sold. Ditto the posh soaps, and the basket of scarves. Old denim, too, failed to attract any customers – and so to the charity shop it shall go. Indeed, I feel considerably better prepared this time than last. All that remains is to get a few customers along. So, yes, do join me. Anytime between noon and 6pm. I'll be at Bar Music Hall in Shoreditch, east London. It's for charity, after all!

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in